Field Ecologist

• Apr 2022 - Present

Forestry Specialist

• Nov 2020 - Apr 2022

Wetlands Biologist

• Sep 2020 - Apr 2022

Consulting Utility Forester

• Nov 2019 - Oct 2020

Small Business Owner

• Aug 2013 - Sep 2020

•Founded Carolina Heritage Game and Poultry, a sustainable farm based in Chatham county, North Carolina with the goal to promote sustainable farming practices and emphasize the importance of biodiversity in agricultural food systems. •Awarded the William W. Dow Scholarship through the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association in 2018. Invited to attend the Sustainable Agriculture Conference in Durham. •Focused on raising threatened or endangered breeds of poultry, waterfowl, and various species of pheasant and quail. •Dedicated time to growing rare/heritage varieties of vegetables, fruits, and flowers and exchanging seeds with farmers across the world. •Shipped live (fertile) hatching eggs throughout the U.S. and Canada to support genetic diversity in different breeding stock. Maintained all health testing and permitting (NPIP/AI, game-bird licensure, etc.) required by both the federal and state government to ship. •Kept track of orders, sales, trends, and net growth in order to reinvest knowledgeably within the farm. •Designed a website for sales, education, and general information. Consistently used social media to advertise to a larger customer base. •Invited to teach classes for students participating in the sustainable agriculture program offered at Central Carolina Community College. The presentations focused on the significance of biodiversity within agricultural food systems, including both crop and livestock operations. Presentations included live birds, material references, and question and answer sessions. Show less

Undergraduate Student Researcher

• Aug 2015 - Dec 2015

Undergraduate Research UNC Institute for the EnvironmentHighlands Biological Station•Worked on a collaborative research project assessing the habitat quality and health of the Horsepasture River, a major river system in western North Carolina. Sampled an experimental reach of approximately 100 meters along the streambed at seven different locations.•Completed a Stream Visual Assessment Protocol (SVAP), a habitat assessment using the North Carolina Habitat Assessment Field Data Sheet (NCHAFDS), and a Bank Erosion Hazard Index (BEHI) at each site.•Collected macroinvertebrates and used the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index to assess the pollution tolerance value of each family. •Compiled research into a scientific paper that was published through the biological station Show less

Undergraduate Student Researcher

• Aug 2015 - Dec 2015

Undergraduate Research UNC Institute for the Environment Highlands Biological Station•Mapped the range, distribution and habitat of magnolia fraseri in various locations throughout the southern Appalachian Mountains. •Collected quantitative and qualitative data, such as elevation, temperature, soil moisture, soil pH, tree circumference, and core samples at sites where magnolia fraseri were identified. Sites were marked using Trimble GPS units.•Created distribution maps using Arc GIS software with various data overlays. •Compiled information into a research report. Show less

Herpetology Lab Assistant

• May 2008 - May 2012